MANILA, Philippines - Twenty-three persons died and 99 others were hurt in separate incidents nationwide during Holy Week, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported yesterday.
Twelve of the 23 died in vehicular accidents while nine others drowned.
One was killed in a fire while another died in a shooting incident. All the injured persons figured in road mishaps.
As of yesterday, 16 vehicular accidents, 10 drowning incidents, six fires, one case of carbon monoxide poisoning, a maritime incident, flooding and a shooting incident were recorded during the Holy Week.
Vehicular accidents were recorded in Santiago in Ilocos Sur, Bani in Pangasinan and Santo Tomas in La Union in the Ilocos region, Pulilan and Bocaue in Bulacan and Mexico in Pampanga in Central Luzon; Sariaya in Quezon, Maragondon and Bacoor in Cavite in Calabarzon; Gingoog City in Misamis Oriental in Northern Mindanao; Pinukpuk in Kalinga and Baguio City in Cordillera.
Drowning incidents were reported in Narvacan in Ilocos Sur, Aglipay in Quirino, Cabagan in Isabela, Nasugbu in Batangas, Maragondon and Ternate in Cavite, Sariaya in Quezon, Tabuk City and Pinukpuk in Kalinga, and Binangonan in Rizal.
Fire incidents occurred in Quezon City, Gingoog City, Pantar in Lanao del Norte, Bauan in Batangas, Tumauini in Isabela and Binangonan.
An estimated P8.5 million worth of properties were damaged in the six fire incidents.
NDRRMC said one person died in a shooting incident that happened last Saturday in Nagtipunan, Quirino.
Victim Jojo Bunao Bayangos, 32, sustained a bullet wound on his left chest.
Eleven persons were brought to hospital due to carbon monoxide poisoning in Catbalogan City in Samar while three others almost got drowned in Batangas and Kalinga.
The lone maritime incident involved a Super Shuttle ship that got stranded near Poctoy Port in Odiongan, Romblon last Wednesday.
The propeller of the ship reportedly got intertwined with a rope, causing engine failure. The ship’s 290 passengers safely disembarked the vessel.
Meanwhile, heavy rains caused floods in nine barangays in Tagum City, Davao del Norte last Thursday.
The flood displaced a total of 68 families or 344 persons but there were no reported casualties.
Except for some isolated incidents, the Philippine National Police (PNP) described as generally peaceful the observance of Holy Week nationwide.
PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima ordered all policemen nationwide to be on alert with thousands of people from Metro Manila and other urban areas, who spent the holidays in the provinces, expected to return to the metropolis.
Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, of the PNP Public Information Office (PIO), said as of press time no untoward incident that could affect overall security was recorded.
“Save for a few isolated incidents, the overall security situation throughout the country (during Holy Week) was generally peaceful as of this time,†Sindac said.
On instruction of the PNP chief, Sindac said police units nationwide would still observe measures related to summer vacation plan of the police that was designed to ensure the safety and security of travelers.
Earlier, Sindac noted that the entire PNP was on heightened alert status during the Holy Week.
“When the PNP is under heightened alert status, about 90 to 95 percent of the police force remains on duty. Special patrols and force mutipliers were also deployed to conduct patrol operations in subdivisions and residential areas,†Sindac said.
Drowning victims
A 34-year-old barangay tanod drowned when strong waves lashed a beach in Nasugbu, Batangas last Saturday morning.
Senior Superintendent Omega Jireh Fidel, Batangas police director identified the fatality as Amadeo Encinas, of Barangay Macabling, Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
Encinas and four companions went swimming about 50 meters away from the shoreline of Maligaya Beach Resort in Barangay Bucana in Nasugbu when strong waves swept the victim and his friend Arnel Dedecatoria.
Local officials and Red Cross volunteers immediately conducted rescue operations but only Dedecatoria was recovered alive.
Encinas’ body was later found floating near the shoreline.
A teenager drowned in a swimming pool in Rodriguez, Rizal last Saturday.
Mariela Kay Flores, 14, student, was rushed to the nearby H-Ville Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.
Senior Superintendent Bernabe Balba, Rizal police director, said Flores and her relatives and friends from Litex Road, Barangay Commonwealth, Quezon City decided to spend the Holy Week vacation in a swimming pool in Rodriguez.
The victim was left in the pool and was later found floating in the pool.
Four people, including a seven-year-old boy, drowned in separate incidents in Isabela over the week.
Reports identified the victims as John Loyd Corpuz, 7, of San Manuel, Isabela; Joseph Talosig, 53, of Ilagan City; Dondon Aban, 24, of Saguday, Quirino; and Jessica Fernandez, 15, of Cauayan City, who all reportedly drowned while on a picnic with family and friends last Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Corpuz was reportedly swept by strong currents in Magat River in Cabatuan town. With Non Alquitran, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Charlie Lagasca, Arnel Ozaeta